New Iraq War Plan: High Troop Levels Through 2008

New York Times:

Troop levels in Iraq would remain nearly the same through 2008 as at any time during five years of war, under plans presented to President Bush on Monday by the senior American commander and the top American diplomat in Iraq, senior administration and military officials said.

Mr. Bush announced no final decision on future troop levels after the video briefing by the commander, Gen. David H. Petraeus, and the diplomat, Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker. The briefing took place on the day when the 4,000th American military death of the war was reported and just after the invasion's fifth anniversary.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[LorettaSingbiel]

It now appears likely that any decision on major reductions in American troops from Iraq will be left to the next president.

[Durango]

So how in Hell does it end?

[MikeDu]

The right wing argument: We're winning so we have to stay. We're losing so we have to stay. Fewer people are dying so we have to stay. More people are dying so we have to stay. The war has cost us trillions so we have to stay. We're losing respect in the region so we have to stay. We have to stay or we'll lose respect in the region. We have to stay or we'll 'lose'. We have to stay to honor the dead. We have to stay to make it all 'mean' something. In other words, no matter what the circumstance or the cost or the outcome or the reasons behind this military adventure we're trapped like rats. We have to stay.

[chinaskee]

The only ones who think we're losing are you Democrats.

[syllepsis]

Yes, it's the classic Catch-22- either way, you're coming with us.

[GoBamaGo]

nothing is new

[ScooterLiddy]

Don't you get it? "The surge" = "stay the course", suckers.

[BubbadoneJammedhillaryup]

"Researchers at Harvard say that publicly voiced doubts about the U.S. occupation of Iraq have a measurable "emboldenment effect" on insurgents there.

[syllepsis]

Would repealing the First Amendment help? I know you're dying to do it.

[cdnnewsjunky]

Did anybody at Harvard mention that there wouldn't be any insurgents if the US had not illegally invaded a soverign country?

[standforpeace]

Once again the American public played for fools while our troops and Iraqi civilians die in service of George Bush's big lie. The Democrats would have us focus all of our attention on the November elections promising that they will get us out if we would just give them the power. It seems to me that is the same bill of goods thye sold us before the 2006 elections. Now it's time for them to make good on their promises. Another 10 months is too long to wait. The Democrats need to start putting some real pressure on the Republican party to bring the troops home now. And we citizens need to turn up the heat on our end to "encourage" the Democrats to get moving. Any thoughts on what we can do?

[Tator]

See ya HP folks. The Censor Nazis seem to make about half most post disappear. None break any of the posting rules you Liberals break all the time, so since the closed minded Liberals at HP can not debate any other ideas than their on dogma I will move on.

[bumpersticker]

The Bush presidency is like a mentally disturbed adolescent, walking his Pit Bull in the city without a pooper scooper. The strut and the Pit Bull intimidation is a pose from weakness to achieve a lonely form of respect, but it comes with an unwillingness to bend down and take responsibility for the turds.

[BronxBorn]

"The Iraqis are fully staffed, and — and they've got their team in there, but we don't. And so, what Gen. Petraeus is saying — some early signs, still dangerous, but give me — GIVE MY CHANCE A PLAN TO WORK."

[rbspickles]

We will keep high troop levels in the ME until either the US gets control of the oil or we get obliterated under the costs of trying to get it. That's the bottom line.

[BubbadoneJammedhillaryup]

Want to know how long we'll stay in Iraq?

[Ammobob]

Such a shocking surprise! I'd thought for sure they'd all be home for supper. 140k is about 40k more than I predicted. Sorry, I was wrong. With the Brits being conjoled to redeploying INTO Southern Iraq from their 'over the horizon' England prepositioning. Killing 'bad guys' should continue unabated thru 2008 and into 2009.

[BronxBorn]

And so, yes, we're making progress. But, no, I fully understand those who say you can't win this thing militarily. That's exactly what the United States military says, that you can't win this military.

[pennyfortheguy]

Good for Business. Certain aspects of it.